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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?

Do you believe in love at first sight? Can it happen? More importantly, can it last over the long haul of the ups and downs of a relationship?

Throw in a few obstacles from the very first meeting of the hero/heroine, and the relationship becomes even more intriguing.

In my novella, EVERY GIRL’S DREAM, the opening story from A WESTERN SAGA (Victory Tales Press), that’s just what happens.

Sheena McTavish, a young Irish girl, has been raped by the son of her father’s employer. Now, with a baby on the way, Sheena is given an unthinkable choice: give her baby to the father’s wealthy family to raise, or travel to New Mexico Territory by stagecoach to live with her aunt and uncle until her child is born. At that point, she will have to place it in a nearby orphanage.

Desperate to buy some time and protect her baby from its father, she chooses to travel west. Alone and afraid, she starts on the journey that will change her life forever. Before Sheena’s stage leaves, she meets handsome Army scout Callen Chandler. The attraction is there, even under difficult conditions.

As the story progresses, Sheena must learn to trust again, and Cal begins to realize he doesn’t have to live the solitary existence he’s endured up to now. Being half Comanche has left him with no place in either world—white or Indian. When Sheena comes along, everything changes…for both of them.

To see all of the other wonderful anthologies available from VICTORY TALES PRESS, click here:http://victorytalespress.yolasite.com/online-store.php At Amazon/Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Saga-Anthology-Sensual-ebook/dp/B0051BIBWC/

Also, check out their exciting imprint of all WESTERN books and short stories at WESTERN TRAIL BLAZERS:http://westerntrailblazer.yolasite.com/online-store.php

I’ll leave you with an excerpt of EVERY GIRL’S DREAM.

Cal is a half-breed U.S. Army scout, who has just rescued Sheena, the heroine, from a Kiowa attack on the stagecoach she was in. They had met briefly the morning before, and as luck would have it, Cal comes upon the stage after the Kiowas have attacked and are getting ready to ride away with Sheena. He tells them he and Sheena are married and the Kiowas reluctantly let him take Sheena, but then…

Cal felt…something. His back tingled as he waited for the stinging burn of a shale arrowhead. He risked a glance backward, and saw the Kiowa leader’s stare heavy upon him.

“Sheena, hold on tight.”

“The baby—”

“I know, sweetheart. We won’t ride hard any longer’n we have to. Lowell’s Ridge is only about four miles away.” A very long four miles.

She nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry, Callen.”

“No call for that.”

“You came for me.”

He smiled at that. There was a small amount of disbelief in her tone, overshadowed by a huge amount of wonder. Who wouldn’t come for her?

“You could be killed because of me,” she said softly, as if she had only just realized it. She laid her hand over his, and in that moment, he wondered if dying for her would be worth the twenty-seven years he’d lived so far.

His heart jumped at her touch, then steadied. But as he risked another glance back, he saw exactly what he’d feared. Two of the braves were mounting up, and they weren’t riding the opposite way. “That still might happen,” he murmured.

He leaned forward, trying to protect Sheena with his body as he slapped the reins against the horse’s side, urging him into a lope, then a full-out run.

The Kiowas were close behind them. There must have been dissension among them. The leader had seemed content to let him take Sheena and ride away. One of the others must have disagreed with that decision.

Cal reached to pull his revolver from his holster.

They were strangely quiet, he thought.

The first bullet cracked from behind them, and Cal reflexively bent lower. The bullet whined past his ear like an angry bee.

Sheena gasped. He fired off a shot and got lucky. One of the warriors screamed in agony and fell from his saddle. But the other rode low, hanging onto the side of his mount. And he kept right on coming.

The next bullet sang over Cal’s head. He concentrated on eating up the miles to Lowell’s Ridge. Riding double was slowing them down considerably. Sheena’s body was tense beneath the shelter of his own. Fragile, but strong. Delicate, but determined. His hand splayed over her stomach, holding her close, cradling her from the jarring of their wild ride.

A whoop from behind them accompanied the crack of a rifle, and this time, the Kiowa warrior’s bullet found its mark. A bolt of fire seared through Cal’s right shoulder, and for a minute, the pain was so strong he almost sawed back on the reins. But at his harsh curse, Sheena glanced up at him, her hand instantly clamping tightly over his. The reins were still wrapped in his fingers, but Sheena kept her hand on his, reminding him to let the horse have his head and continue their flight for freedom.

“Hang on, Cal!”

The pain was so breathtaking he could do nothing but nod his understanding.

“Dammit!” she cursed. That almost made him smile, but the agony in his shoulder surged up and stole his breath again as the horse’s hooves pounded the ground below. The road was not much more than a trail, and where it narrowed, branches reached out to scrape and snarl in hair and clothing, scratching their faces as they blindly rode toward safety.

As they broke through the brambles and low limbs into the clearing on the other side of the wooded section of road, Cal glimpsed the steeple of the church, then in a moment, the rooftops of houses.

He glanced behind him to see the Kiowa had stopped. He was taking careful, deadly aim with the Winchester he held. “Christ,” Cal muttered. “Keep down, Sheena.”

Do you believe in love at first sight? Got personal experience? Let's hear it!

22 comments:

I do believe in love at first sight! The first time I met my husband was at his sister's birthday party and is still so clear in my mind--I remember what each of us was wearing, where I was sitting, where he stood, where his mom and sister were in the room. His mom recognized it and looked from me to him to me to him with this odd surprised look on her face.

Caroline,That is one sweet story--I love the fact that it was so obvious to his mother.

My husband and I didn't fall in love at first sight. In fact, we didn't even really like each other that much. LOL He and I ended up in a couple of classes together in college--he was newly divorced and fresh out of the Navy, and 6 years older than I, going to school on the GI Bill. He thought my Oklahoma accent was "fakey" and I thought he was a dyed in the wool jerk. LOL But as time went by and we got to know each other a little (and he realized that I was from Oklahoma--we lived in West Virginia at this time) he finally asked me out after a few weeks. We went to the stock car races for our first date--and that's when I think we both fell in love. He broke up a fight and disarmed a guy in the crowd behind us, then came back and sat down and said, "Sorry." LOLLOL Talk about an "icebreaker." We've been married 32 years.

Hey, Cheryl--good topic. I don't know--maybe. As a teenager, I fell in love at first sight with at least half a dozen boys. But of course as soon as I saw one pick his nose or spit, my love quickly faded.I did not fall in love at first sight with my husband, although as a young man just returning home from the Army, the girls sure looked at him. He was the tall, quiet type, dark hair and blue eyes, slim, square jaw, etc. Very, very cute.He also is six years my senior and had enrolled in college using the G.I. bill. I was midsemester in my high school Jr. year. I was at a basketball game, watching the guy I was madly in love with play, and my friend punched my arm--"Look! There he is! Isn't he cute??? The guy that just walked in the door." She knew who he was--the younger son of a big family we all knew.She did not get his attention--by golly, I did.To this day I don't know why he chose me. Truly, I don't.By the time I graduated, at barely 18, we married.I asked him once--why did you choose me? You know I'm not really pretty. His answer: "I knew you were honest." How? How did he know that? And instantly?Anyway, we've been married waaaaay long. Guess the marriage will last, after all.(PS-you need to use that little story you told Caroline for a plot--it is perfect!)Celia

For a romance writer, I guess I can be pretty cynical--I don't believe in love at first sight. I guess I better hide behind a protective wall or a water tough or something but there ya go.I believe that love takes time, energy and attentiveness to develop.I almost don't believe in love everlasting but I have actually seen that work out even though not that often. I'd like to keep that belief alive and well. Of course, in my stories, love at first sight is possible--and encouraged. LOL

Most definitely I believe in love at first sight. The moment I laid eyes on my hubby of close to 43 years, I knew he was the one I wanted. Never have regretted a moment of it. He was standing under a big tree at an Air Force picnic and my big brother was his sargeant. Today he surprised me and sat in a room in the ER with me all day long. I was surprised as he is usually restless. You gotta love a guy like that. I do. :)

Cheryl, I believe in "like" at first sight and the inexplainable feeling you have met before -- (perhaps in another time, another life). I do think love at first sight can happen, but is rare. I know it happened to my great grandparents. Like you, when I first met my husband it wasn't love. Actually, I thought he was cute but weird. I still do. LOL. But he is the love of my life and I cannot imagine life without him. :)

At sixteen, I had a love at first sight for a very handsome guy. That brought many tears and a good lesson. It wasn't love at first sight with my DH. I didn't even want to go out with him. Like my heroines, I was afraid to get hurt again. When I agreed to give us a chance, I really started falling for him. We have been married for many many years. On a funny note, I met my first one twenty-five years later. I was with my husband and two kids, he was with his wife and four kids. I was shocked and wondered how on earth I found him handsome back then. My DH was by far better looking and much more interesting. See how stupid one can be at sixteen.

Celia, what a lovely story! I'm sure he thought you were beautiful. I don't think anyone thinks of themselves as pretty, unless they are a movie star or celebrity. I know I never did. Thanks so much for sharing your story. Yes, I should come up with a plot about my first date with G. He was worried I would never go out with him again.LOL Hugs,Cheryl

PS--I, too, fell in love at first sight many times from the time I was about 13-18. Can't tell you how many cute boys I thought were "the one."

OH TANYA...that reminds me of that song from South Pacific...SOME ENCHANTED EVENING... You may see a stranger...Across a crowded room.LOL I got goose bumps reading about it. What a fantastic love story!Hugs,Cheryl

SARAH!!!! LOL I know. I have a cousin like you who swears there is no such thing...I have not experienced the "keeper" love at first sight like some have--because Gary and I weren't in love at first sight. But I do know that it can happen. And I think when it does, it still takes nurturing to last.Hugs,Cheryl

Paisley, what a lovely man you have, to sit with you in the ER. I'm not sure my husband would have lasted 2 hours in an ER with me...Maybe if he'd brought a book to read--but how sweet of your husband to go with you--hope everything is okay! 43 years! Congratulations!Hugs,Cheryl

Ashley, you crack me up--"cute but weird", huh? I believe, like you, that there are people we have a connection with from another time. I love it that your husband is still the love of your life, and you're still in love after years of marriage!Hugs,Cheryl

Marybelle,You are so right--and I'm glad you brought that up. There are so many different kinds of love. And even just an attraction that might be minor, not "love" at all, can fast grow and blossom into so much more with the right care and nurturing--and the gift of TIME.Cheryl

Mona,I dated a lot of "bad boys" in my younger days. LOL I don't know what attracted me to that type, but thankfully, as you say, after many tears and "lessons learned" we do get wiser with age. Your comment reminded me of that Garth Brooks song, "Unanswered Prayers"--where he runs into his old highschool sweetheart years later than thanks God for the unanswered prayers he sent up that she would be "the one". I'm so glad your story had a very happy ending to it!Hugs,Cheryl

Cheryl,I'm not so sure it was love at first sight for me and my dh, but it was definitely attraction at first sight. We were on a picnic with a group of people our age, all single. It was the first time we'd met, and he wouldn't leave my side. Called me later and asked me out. I believe attraction can grow into love, because it did for us. :-) Even if we do drive each other crazy at times. ;-)

Hi Jeanmarie,I think you are right. And what a neat story--he knew a good thing when he saw it, huh? LOL I hear you about driving each other crazy sometimes. Especially since my husband retired this year...Hugs,Cheryl

Hi Cheryl, yep, a love story. But it would have ended badly. For our first date, I picked the Burt Reynold's classic Deliverance. If you have seen it, you wonder along with me that he ever asked me out again.

Tanya! That is soooo funny. But it's hard to know what to pick, and they always leave it up to the girl to pick the movie. For our first movie date, I picked THE OMEN. LOLLOL I think girls try to pick something that they think the guy might like--not some "chick flick." That's what you end up with...Deliverance and The Omen.Cheryl